Do Nasal Polyps Require Surgery?
Apr 16, 2016
Nasal polyps can form as a result of several different ailments, and usually resolve on their own. If polyps persist, medication may be necessary to help reduce inflammation, shrink the polyps, and accelerate the body’s natural healing processes.
But when these measures fail, nasal polyps could require surgery to resolve the problem for good. As a recent Q&A put it:
[M]edication treatment often is successful and can prevent the need for surgery. It’s sometimes necessary even after surgery. For this reason, I recommend a trial of medication, usually nasal steroids, prior to considering surgery.
Surgery for nasal polyp removal is fairly straightforward, making use of the ubiquitous endoscope to direct microscopic tools in a virtualized environment. Your sinus surgeon simply threads the endoscope to the site of the polyps and uses a microdebrider to remove the offending tissue. The area is then packed with dressing and the patient is discharged.
Nasal polyp removal surgery is fairly simple to recover from – you should be back to your normal routine within a few weeks.